11 Best Belay Glasses for Rock Climbing- Buying Guide & Reviews!

There are many pieces of kit that people can buy to enhance their experiences while rock climbing. On such piece of gear is belay glasses. Wearing these glasses allows people to see the rocks above them and their climbing partner without tipping their head and neck. This can reduce the amount of neck strain from which you may otherwise suffer during a day climbing and this is a common problem among climbers. Although belay glasses are not suitable for all situations, they are very helpful for long days climbing crags when you would usually spend lots of time looking upwards to find your next hold. There are many different belay glasses on the market now, and each of these has features, pros, and cons. The following is a guide to choosing the best belay glasses with reviews of the best options available now.

Made from a light and comfortable plastic, these glasses are barely noticeable while wearing them for rock climbing. The thin frames allow you to have both climber and surrounding fields of vision. They are designed so that you can either wear them alone, alongside your own prescription glasses or with a pair of sunglasses during warmer weather. You can enjoy clear images when using these belay glasses thanks to the high-quality prisms. This means you will not need to strain your eyes or resort to looking upwards for a better view. They also offer great portability as the accessory that comes with these glasses is a durable zippered case with an attachment clip. The case protects your glasses when moving between climbs and provides a safe storage place for when the glasses are not in use. The attachment clip means you can attach the case and glasses to either your harness, a belt, or your bag. A further advantage of these glasses is the low price as they are affordable belay glasses for those with a limited budget.

These are made by the leading brand in the belay glasses industry and are often rated among the top belay glasses for rock climbers. The frames and arms of the glasses are made from a flexible and resistant plastic. Not only does this make them more comfortable to wear, but it also increases the life span of the glasses. The thin frame allows for two fields of vision; climber and surrounding. They also fit over both prescription glasses and sunglasses. One of the biggest benefits of these belay glasses is the high-quality of the prisms ad they give clear and comfortable vision. These glasses come with a protective case, a retainer strap, a cloth glasses cleaner, and a small repair screw. For the fashion-conscious, they are available in a range of bright and fun colors as well as the black option. There is also a variation of these glasses with metal frames.

Wearing these belay glasses will stop you from suffering the neck strain associated with rock climbing as you can watch your climbing partner while keeping your head in its natural position. These affordable glasses have a lightweight design that give you the ultimate comfort while keeping you safe. They have high-quality optical prisms that gives climbers excellent vision and they are compatible with most prescription glasses and sunglasses. Included with the glasses are all the accessories you need for portability and the protection of your glasses. The smart, black, zippered case comes will keep your glasses safe when not in use and gives you something to carry your glasses in when moving between climbs. There is a cleaning cloth to care for your glasses and maximize the view and a neck strap for carrying. A metal carabiner is included so you can strap your glasses to your harness as an alternative transportation method.

If comfort is one of the most important features to you, these are some of the most comfortable rock climbing glasses on the market now. Not only do these belay glasses have a lightweight design, but they also have comfortable nose caps. So, you will not experience the uncomfortable rubbing and pressure on your nose that is associated with wearing glasses. These glasses have curved lenses with and give a wide view and peripheral vision. The durable frames can withstand the general knocks you would expect any equipment to suffer while rock climbing. You can easily use and adjust the glasses single-handedly. There are retainer eyelets so that you can attach a retainer strap to wear the glasses around your neck for convenience. They come with a case that will protect your belay specs when they are not in use and a cleaning cloth for the general care of your belay glasses.

Finding a pair of belay glasses that are comfortable is often tricky, but Belay Optics has designed a product that resolves this problem. They claim to make the only rock climbing glasses that are fully adjustable belay glasses that are also clip-on. You can fine-tune the prism placement for optimal visual clarity and easily attach them to most other glasses. Wearing these glasses will help you to avoid belayers neck while easily focusing on the climber above. You can still keep track of your surroundings and your own equipment. The prisms are located in a protective durable plastic edge holder that protects the prisms from chips and scratches, thus improving their life span. A durable zippered case is included when you buy these climbing glasses. The case will protect your glasses when you are not wearing them and you can use it to carry your glasses from one climb to the next. A metal carabiner is attached to the case and you can use this to clip your glasses in their case to your harness, belt, or rucksack.

This is a lightweight pair of belay goggles with an upgraded design that is comfortable to wear without distracting you during a climb. They are a pro-quality pair of glasses with high-quality optical prisms. Despite being good quality, these are some of the cheapest climbing glasses on the market now. They come with a smart-looking zippered case that you can use for carrying your glasses around or for storing your glasses on the days you are not belaying, and this will protect them. A small metal carabiner at the end of the case is useful for attaching to your harness, backpack, or belt. These glasses also come with a retainer strap so that you can wear the belaying glasses around your neck for convenience. This is handy during a climb when you may not want to wear your glasses all the time, but you need them close and ready to wear.

Y&Y is one of the leading manufacturers of belay glasses. Available in seven colors, these glasses have a sophisticated design. They give climbers clear and comfortable vision, thanks to the high-quality of the prisms. Wearers can enjoy two fields of vision, climber and surrounding, because of the thin frames. Even if you wear prescription glasses or sunglasses, you can still wear these belay goggles as they simply fit over them. The flexible bows of memory alloy and the soft silicone nose pads mean that these are a comfortable pair of glasses to wear. Therefore, you will not suffer discomfort even if you wear the glasses all day. The glasses come with a protective zippered case for storage and carrying your glasses between climbs. The case has a carabiner to conveniently hang the case from your bag, belt, or harness when you are not wearing the glasses.

A lightweight frame makes these a comfortable pair of glasses to wear, even if you are wearing them all day. The frames are low profile, and this gives you enhanced peripheral vision while still having a clear view of the climber above from the high-quality glass optical prisms. This stops you from needing to look up constantly and reduces the strain on your neck and back muscles. They come with a durable case that will keep your glasses protected when they are stashed in your backpack or stored away at home. This will stop the glasses from getting scratched and damaged from other items in your bag and reduce their lifespan. The case has plastic carabiner so that you can attach the case to your harness between climbs. These glasses also come with a cloth that you can use to care for and clean your glasses at the end of a busy day of climbing.

If you prefer a metal frame, then these climbing glasses are a great choice as many of their competitors use plastic for the main material for the frames. The use of metal means that the frames are both lightweight and durable. The crystal-clear glass prisms are scratch-resistant, which increases the lifespan of your glasses. The clear views these lenses give will reduce the Belayer’s neck pain that climbers often experience. These glasses are easy to use for beginners and experts alike. They come with a durable, zippered glasses case that will protect your glasses and give you somewhere to store them when they are not in use. There is also a lanyard, and this gives you the option to wear the glasses around your neck for convenience and comfort. A cleaning kit is provided, so you can take good care of this piece of kit. These are a good option if you have never used belay glasses before as the set comes with a training ebook to show you how to correctly use the glasses while climbing.

The Rockulus Belay Glasses are designed to eliminate belaying related neck injuries as you can keep an eye on the climber with looking up and straining your neck. The construction is high-quality and sturdy enough for use on the crag. They are shaped to fit neatly alongside prescription glasses or sunglasses to optimize vision. The lenses use prisms and mirrors so that the wearer can view above at an angle of 5-degrees. Weighing seven ounces, these are some of the heaviest belay glasses, but they are also some of the most sturdy and durable. There is a hard, protective case with the glasses for safe and convenient storage. This has a clip to attach the case to your harness if you prefer not to put your glasses and case into your bag every time you are not using them. Also included is a retainer strap for those who prefer to wear their climbing glasses around their neck when not in use or between climbs.

At just 1.26-ounces, these are the lightest weight glasses for climbers available. This is thanks to the titanium alloy frames as titanium is a material that is both light and durable. The strength of this material means it can stand tough conditions and plenty of wear and tear. The fully optical K9 prisms give high transparency and excellent clear views. This means you can easily see what is happening above while also retaining great peripheral vision. You get a shock-proof case with the glasses so you can store them safely when they are not in use. There is also a black neck strap if you prefer the convenience of wearing your glasses around your neck. Also included with the set are a cleaning cloth, an extra silicon nose pad, and two spare screws with a screwdriver. While the nose pad will make sure you are comfortable wearing the glasses, the cloth, screws, and screwdriver will help you to maintain your glasses and keep them in as good as new condition.

Things to Consider When Buying Belay Glasses

With so many belay glasses to choose between, it is important to consider all the factors to make sure you make the right choice. This guide highlights the main points you need to consider to get the best belay glasses for rock climbing.

Fit and Comfort

The last thing you want while climbing is for your belay glasses to feel uncomfortable. Therefore, finding the right fit is vital. Consider these points:

Not all belay glasses fit the same, so some brands may suit you better than others.

Belay glasses should not feel tight on the side of your head and face or pinch the nose. On the other hand, you do not want loose belay specs that will slide down your nose and distract you while climbing.

It makes sense to spend some time trying on belay glasses in a bricks-and-mortar store to test how comfortable they feel. You can then save money if you buy them online.

If you wear prescription glasses, you need a pair of belay glasses that either fits over the top of your glasses or that is stackable.

Another option for glasses wearers is to buy clip-on belay glasses that you can attach directly to your own prescription glasses.

Portability

When moving from one climb to the next, you will usually remove your glasses. You then need to think about how you will transport them from one spot to another.

Most belay glasses come with a protective case.

If you don’t mind throwing your glasses case into your bag every time you move to a new climb, you do not need to think about other portability features.

Some cases have something with which you can attach the case to your belt or harness.

Functionality

Belay glasses have a practical use and you must make sure the model you choose is functional and fit for purpose.

Look at the product information to see the specifications and features of the product.

Take time to read reviews to see what other customers say about the product as this is a good indicator of whether the glasses are fit for purpose or not.

Price

Price is one of the key factors in the purchase decision-making process for most people. In relation to the price of belay glasses, think about these points:

The price of a pair of belay glasses depends on the brand, the features, and the materials.

The quality of the glasses is not always reflected in the price because you can buy a decent pair of belay glasses for a low price.

You can save money when shopping for belay glasses if you buy them online instead of from a bricks-and-mortar store.

Shopping online for belay glasses means you can compare the prices of different products.

Final Verdict

Belay glasses are a useful piece of kit for serious climbers as they can enhance the climbing experience. There are many different belay glasses available and each has interesting features that will appeal to different people.

Some of the best belay glasses on the market are the Y&Y Vertical Plasfun. Manufactured by a leading brand, these belay specs are comfortable to wear,and you can even wear them with prescription glasses or sunglasses. These glasses have thin frames and give you two fields of vision. They come with useful accessories and are available in a range of colors.

For those with a limited budget, the Epic Peak Lightweight Pro Belaying Glasses are a good option. Despite the low price, these have some great features that will appeal to many people. They are lightweight and have high-quality optical prisms. They also come with a smart zippered case and a retainer strap, so you have different options for transporting your belay glasses.